Cassie Thomsen

Pols 1100 MWF 9:00

21 March, 2017

A Salt Lake Community College Survey Concerning Political Views

Students in the class POLS 1100 (Political Science) at Salt Lake Community College

during the start of the spring semester of 2017 took a survey regarding political issues. This

survey concerned the knowledge as well as opinions of these students regarding Politics, and

occurred nearly a few weeks or so after the United States election.

In this class, 52 percent of people are women and 47 percent are men that were surveyed

had an average age of 21. Only 39 percent of the class could identify the vice president and only

22 percent could Name one of Utahs two U.S. Senators. Even less could name a member of

the House of Representatives, which came to 17 percent. This class could barely name the people

representing us as a country and those representing us as individuals. This is a scary thought

considering our representatives have the ability to change aspects of our future and our

restrictions as citizens while we so little about them.

Personally, my views are more Liberal. Some specific views that I share with liberals

include: free health care, equal rights (equality in gay marriage and pro-choice concerning

abortion), and allowing laws to protect individuals. I believe in total and complete equality and

the protection of our civil liberties and human rights with a structured government we can look

to. Yes, I think we should be able to figure out some things for ourselves (without much

government) in a conservative sense, and I also agree with some beliefs in the conservative

mindset, but I identify more with the liberals.

 Cassie Thomsen
Pols 1100 MWF 9:00
21 March, 2017

This class answered some questions on this survey regarding their political views,

ranging anywhere from immigration to global warming. Overall, the class is more liberal. Out of

ten questions, the class answered in 7.5 out of ten questions (the half is an tie within in the class)

in favor of Liberal views and 2.5 out of ten questions in favor of Conservative views. The

majority of the class was in favor for: 1) lowering restrictions on immigration, 2) not relaxing 1st

amendment rights to fight terrorism, 3) bearing arms, 4) supporting gay marriage, 5) supporting

euthanasia to those who are terminally ill, 6) health care for all citizens, 7) either for/against a

stronger military stance, 8) less surveillance on citizens through NSA, 9) tax cuts, and even 10)

reducing global warming. I would say that the majority of students want equality and good for

the world, the economy, and the people. I feel that most of the participants (or students) are

unsure of how they where they stand (either conservative or liberal), and their political

awarenesss. The variation in differences of the percentages that people were for or against was

great. For example, the split for supporting universal healthcare was 81 percent to 14 percent.

While the split for United States taking a stronger military stance was 47 percent to 47 percent.

Though they are different aspects of politics, it shows that the class all together doesnt

necessarily agree on everything (it ranges from most of the class agreeing to nearly half the class

or very little agreeing). Its great to show how differently each individual person thinks about

different subjects side to side, but when it comes to complete unity on an opinion, it becomes a

little more of a gray area.

If students in this one class at Salt Lake Community College, the future generations,

dont know much about who is representing the United States, whats to say about other

colleges? What about all other eligible voters in the US? We should be more aware and
 Cassie Thomsen
Pols 1100 MWF 9:00
21 March, 2017

worrisome and aware about those who are representing or wanting to represent us as a nation.

The people we vote for not only change us as people, they sculpt who we are as a nation. And

through greater knowledge and involvement, we can change this nation as a whole for the better